Costa Rica

Astounding beauty… peaceful blend of pure air and water. With its neutrality and lack of a standing army since 1948, Costa Rica is recognized as having one of the most developed democratic systems of government in Latin America. The quality of life is rated as one of the highest in the Western hemisphere.

Known for its tropical splendor, Costa Rica has become the hemisphere´s ultimate destination for a fulfilling, laid back style, welcoming over 1.7 million visitors each year, with more than half of them visiting the Guanacaste area.

We invite you to learn more about this lovely nation.

DEMOGRAPHICS

The country is home of 4.1 million people, 28% percent of the national budget is spent on education, with a result of a 96% literacy rate, one of the highest in the world. The economy is based on tourism, agriculture and exports of building materials, software and electronic components. Its health care system has also been recognized as one of the best in the continent.

Below you will find other interesting facts that describe this nation:

• Universal, free and compulsory education since 1870 (1st in Latin America).
• Financial stability for over 20 years.
• 97% of the territory is covered by electric services that use 97% of renewable resources.
• 1st Latin American country in the Travel and Tourism Competitiveness index of the World Economic Forum.
• 1st country in Latin America and 5th worldwide in the Environmental Performance Index of Yale University.
• 5th high-tech exporter of the world by the 2005 United Nations Human Development report.

ENVIRONMENTAL PRESERVATION

The country´s efforts towards building a harmonious way of life have been specifically directed at environmental preservation. Today, thanks to decades of environmentally aware legislation, 25% of the national territory consists of protected areas. As a result, a nation that covers just 0.03% of the planet´s surface has become home to roughly 6% of its total biodiversity. Its strategic position as a bridge that joins the Americas together, a unique topography embraced in two different oceans and its wide variety of micro-climates, has let Costa Rica become one of the world´s most important biological corridors.

CLIMATE

One of the reasons Costa Rica has become one of the world´s premiere vacation destinations and a favorite place to purchase a second home is the spectacular climate. With an average temperature of 71-81 Fº (21-27 Cº), this tropical and subtropical weather contributes with Costa Rica´s outstanding beauty, pure air and water, unspoiled beaches, rain forest, mountains and rivers.

GETTING TO COSTA RICA

Costa Rica is strategically located in Central America, bordering both the Caribbean Sea and the North Pacific Ocean, between Nicaragua and Panama.

Costa Rica has two major international airports, the Juan Santamaria International Airport (SJO) located in San José (capital city) serving the majority of flight traffic coming to Costa Rica and the Daniel Oduber International Airport (LIR) located in Liberia which is now serving the rapid tourism and economic growth of the Guanacaste area.

In the San José Airport non-stop flights are available from several US locations (Miami, Dallas, Fort Lauderdale, Newark, Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles ) by American, Continental, Delta and Spirit Air; from Toronto by Air Canada; from Madrid by Iberia and Air Comet; and from the majority of the Latin American cities.

Into the Liberia airport non-stop flights are currently available from Miami, Atlanta, Houston, Dallas, Denver, Los Angeles, Charlotte, and New York City by American, Continental, Delta, and US Airways. Local flights from San Jose are also available to a small airstrip just 20 minutes from Reserva Conchal by SANSA and Nature Air.

Private jet travelers are frequent visitors in both airports.